He was curious about this man named Zac. What kind of magic had made her hold onto him for so many years? What if this man was not good? Would it make her give up, stop thinking about divorcing him altogether?---Nina had a nightmare, where she found herself bound hand and foot, locked in a cage, completely becoming a bird in captivity. There was no one around, and no one cared about her. She struggled in the darkness but could not break free from the chains. Waking up from the nightmare, she was panting slightly, her face covered in cold sweat. Sitting up, she touched her face, calmed down for a while, then looked around. She found herself in a strange place. The room was heated, she was covered in a thin down comforter, and she was wearing a camisole dress, exactly like the one in her dream. This made Nina panic, wondering if she was really locked up. She hurriedly got out of bed and ran to the door. Opening it, everything here was unfamiliar, she had never been here before.
She did not know what Nash was up to. But she did not want to sit around here and wait for doom either. A caged bird was not her style. She was not willing.Nash looked at her, noticing her emotional turmoil and her heightened caution and wariness towards him Frowning, he said, "Nina, get this straight. You're my wife in name. How can you call yourself a pet? Being with me is perfectly normal."They had been together like this before, and she had never been this agitated. What could have changed her? He could not figure it out either.Nina gripped the bedsheet tighter and asked, "When are we going to the district court to get divorced?""Are you in a hurry?" "Yes," Nina said firmly. "When we set a date, we shouldn't keep delaying it. Do you understand?"Nash's deep gaze locked onto her. Her words had no hint of warmth. She was not the same Nina as before. Now she just wanted to escape from him, which inevitably made him wonder, "Is it because of that guy called Zac?"Nina hesit
He suddenly changed his tone, his voice deep and calm. "You don't have to say anything. Just stop talking about divorce and stay put here honestly!" Nina was taken aback. How could he say such a thing? Her emotions flared up. "Nash, what do you mean?" "Be good," Nash said softly, with a hint of indulgence, as he stroked her hair. "You haven't eaten yet, are you hungry? I've asked the helpers to prepare your favorite meal. Go downstairs and eat." Nina was surprised that he was not buying into her expectations. She wondered if she had misjudged Nash or if she simply did not know him well enough. She had expected him to explode, unable to tolerate the thought of her loving someone else, and immediately divorce her. After all, they both had their own loves. But he preferred to confine her rather than divorce. Nina was anxious. She wanted a divorce, not to continue staying by his side. "Nash, why don't you want a divorce? Tell me, what needs to happen for us to get divorced?" Na
"No need. Food tastes the same no matter who cooks it, and it's all good. I'm just a bit hungry today, so I ate more than usual," Nina did not want him to fuss over her so much. Putting too much focus on her was not good. The more effort one puts in, the deeper the cost might be."I'm tired, can I go rest now?" Nina asked."Mm," Nash softly replied.Nina finally breathed a sigh of relief and hurried upstairs. Tomorrow, she could go to the company and maybe she would not have to stay here anymore. After work, she could go home. Back in the room, Nina relaxed, but unexpectedly, Nash followed right behind her. Seeing the door open, Nina stepped back and asked, "Why are you coming in too?""This is the master bedroom, if I don't come here, where else can I go?" Nash said matter-of-factly.Nina said, "Then I'll go to the guest room."She tried to leave, but Nash grabbed her hand, looking at her as he said, "Do you need to avoid me like this now? We've been together for so long,
Her actions were too intense, which made Nash could not help but feel puzzled. "What's wrong?" he asked.Nina was a bit flustered, her hand instinctively caressing her stomach. Had her stomach gotten slightly bigger? It was not time for that yet.As Nina locked eyes with Nash, she saw his suspicious gaze upon her, which made her even more nervous. She said, "Maybe I ate too much. I want to sleep early. Let's go to bed."After speaking, Nina lay down, closing her eyes, not wanting to face Nash's questioning.Nash looked at her, then glanced at her voluptuous figure. Indeed, she looked much better than before when she was thinner. But Nina's reaction was significant, casting doubt on him again.Nina had become different from before. But now, she was different in too many ways. For instance, she was not as devoted to him, wanted a divorce, and even considered quitting her job.It seemed like, in the blink of an eye, she had changed completely. It was really something he was not used
Nina glanced sideways.On the notebook, there was a note about a white T-shirt. She had not remembered wrong. It was his simplest attire back then, full of youthful vigor. Why would she have it noted in her notebook? The notebook had been around for some time, maybe she had not had the chance to cross it out."Nina?" Serene noticed Nina's absent-minded look and called out to her.Nina snapped back to reality, lips curling into a slight smile. "Cross it out, I remembered wrong.""Okay," Serene replied.She thought, how could someone like Mr. York, who dominated the business world, have a habit of wearing a white T-shirt?Serene was a recent graduate, but she had a strong ability to learn. Nina thought she was very suitable for Nash.She found the right assistant for Nash. Now that she had found the right one for him, he should finally be willing to let her go.She sat at her desk, lost in thought.Serene noticed her gaze and asked, "Nina, are you feeling unwell?"Nina smiled w
Nash gestured towards the group, "So according to you all, I need the approval of you high-level executives to hire a new employee?""We didn't say that."From the back, Serene heard Nash mention her and spoke up amidst the silence, "Hello everyone, I'm the new employee, Serene. It's a pleasure to meet all the high-level executives."Their gaze turned to Serene with confusion. They were still wondering where this girl had come from and what gave her the right to speak?Seeing them look at her, Serene became bolder and continued to defend her stance, "Mr. York is the leader here and his call for this meeting is a gesture of respect to all. But let's not forget, the ultimate decision-making power lies with Mr. York. His intentions are consistently geared toward the company's benefit. If you're on Mr. York's team, it's because you recognize his capabilities. So why cast doubt on his actions? Could it be that you're having second thoughts?"At her words, Nash narrowed his eyes. Serene
Nash's dark eyes were tinged with a chill. "Where did you find this person?"She had found someone so quickly. Next it was time for her to leave him. He had not even agreed, yet she had arranged everything so confidently! Nina pushed him, her hand moving involuntarily. "It was a normal recruitment process, Nash. Did not you admire her?""If you don't want to work, I'll allow you to resign. You can just focus on being Mrs. York at home," Nash's voice was low and chilling. With a slight pressure from his hand, Nina was forced to look up, and in that moment, their eyes met. Nina frowned. "Why? Do you think I don't want to work and just want to be Mrs. York at home? Have you forgotten what you said when we got married? Know your place, don't overstep boundaries. When the three-year deadline is up, we'll divorce! Why are you so unwilling to divorce me?""Shut up!" Nash clenched his teeth, barely containing his patience. He did not want to hear the word "divorce" again. Nina did not w
The Stone family wasn’t just greedy. They were relentless, always pushing boundaries and expecting more.Karina sighed. “It’s not that I can’t stand up to them, but sometimes it feels unnecessary. There are things that just can’t be explained.”Wilfred didn’t press further. “Pack your things and come with me. I have to travel for a project negotiation that will help our hospital continue expanding.” He was determined to firmly establish himself in Birkham, not just for his professional ambitions but also because Nina was there. Wilfred wanted to protect her and mentor his students, ensuring they could safeguard Nina’s children in the future. “But didn’t we already promise a patient that we’d perform surgery?” Karina asked, a little hesitant. “I’ll arrange for someone else to handle it.” While Karina might have been the better choice for the surgery, Wilfred had other options, including pulling Caleb in at the last minute. “Alright,” Karina replied. Since Wilfred had
Sera blocked Karina’s path, her expression cold and disdainful. “You think you can just use that money to brush me off? Do I look like someone who needs your measly cash?”She grabbed Karina’s arm tightly, her nails biting into her skin. “Let me make this clear. If you don’t do what I’ve asked, I’ll ruin you, Karina. Completely.”Karina’s fear was palpable, but the thought of endless torment and manipulation was even more terrifying. She met Sera’s fierce gaze with a calm, unyielding stare. “Do whatever you want. But let me remind you, the money you gave me? I’m willing to go down with you if it comes to that. My life might not be worth much, but you’ve worked so hard to get into Wilfred’s hospital. Are you really willing to throw that all away?”Sera faltered. She had worked incredibly hard to get where she was. Countless sleepless nights studying, memorizing every detail of her medical texts, and enduring the challenges of difficult patients had pushed her to the brink. She often
Sera’s gaze was so sharp it felt like it could pierce through Karina. Karina hadn’t expected her momentary greed to create such a mess. If she couldn’t stay a doctor, she would have no source of income, and her life would spiral further out of control. “Please, don’t do this. Tell me what you want, and I’ll keep helping you. Maybe… I could spike his drink for you again, or set up another opportunity,” Karina said, grabbing Sera’s hand out of desperation. Sera clearly wasn’t short on money. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to give Karina such a large sum back then.All she wanted now was to secure her position at the hospital.Sera pulled her hand away, a mocking smile on her face. “Set up another opportunity? Do you think Wilfred would fall for it twice? Do you take him for an idiot, Dr. Norman?” Wilfred wasn’t an idiot, and ordinary drugs didn’t seem to affect him much.Karina felt utterly helpless. One wrong step had led to another, and now she had no idea how to
“Starting today, you’ll officially resume your position as my assistant. I trust you’ll adapt quickly,” Wilfred said firmly. Karina’s eyes lit up with a hint of surprise. “Dr. Wilfred, really? I’ll do my best to fulfill the responsibilities of the assistant role.” Wilfred stood up and walked over to her, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Familiarize yourself with the current work schedule and the relevant materials. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask me. I have confidence in you.” Karina hesitated, a trace of worry crossing her face. “But… I’m not sure this is a good idea.” Wilfred already had an assistant. If Karina agreed to take the position, wouldn’t that make her a target for trouble from his former assistant? And then there were all the people at the hospital who were infatuated with Wilfred. Lately, she had already been spending more time with him, drawing enough attention as it was. If she officially became his assistant, she’d surely
Back home, the first thing Karina did was take a shower, cranking the water temperature to the highest setting as if that was the only way to wash away the grim memories of the night.She scrubbed her arms fiercely, the spots where those repulsive men had touched her. Even through her clothes, the thought made her feel sick. Again and again, she lathered herself with soap until her skin turned slightly red, but no matter how hard she tried, the discomfort in her heart lingered.After her shower, Karina changed into clean pajamas and sat on the edge of her bed, unable to sleep. Her gaze fell on her phone. She hesitated for a moment before sending a text to Wilfred.“Dr. Wilfred, I’m truly grateful for your help tonight. I’ll never forget it.”After sending the message, she set her phone down, hugged her knees, and curled up on the bed. Returning to the hospital had always been her dream, but now she worried whether she could truly meet expectations and not let Wilfred down.As she
The men exchanged uneasy glances, hesitating for a moment before reluctantly mumbling, “Sorry,” to Karina. Wilfred watched their retreating figures with thinly veiled disgust. Turning to Karina, he asked gently, “Are you okay?” Karina shook her head lightly, brushing it off. “I’m fine, Dr. Wilfred. Thank you.” Wilfred let out a soft sigh. “Come with me. You shouldn’t be working here.” Karina nodded, following him out of the private room. Wilfred guided Karina through the bustling bar. The pounding music and chaotic chatter seemed distant and muted, fading into the background as they moved. They made their way to the parking lot, where Wilfred opened the car door, carefully helping Karina into the passenger seat before getting in himself and starting the engine. As Karina buckled her seatbelt, she turned to Wilfred with a look of curiosity. “Dr. Wilfred, didn’t you say you had things to handle at the hospital? How did you get here so quickly?” Wilfred kept his ey
When Karina stepped into the room, one of the men, his gaze hazy from drink, chuckled and said, “Well, so this is the beauty they sent over?”Karina forced herself to stay calm and replied politely, “Good evening, gentlemen. Here’s the drinks you ordered.” She began placing the drinks on the table one by one, hoping to finish quickly. Before she could finish, another man grabbed her wrist and yanked her toward him. “Come, have a few drinks with us, sweetheart.”Karina’s heart raced as she pulled her hand away with force. “Sir, I’m just here to deliver your drinks. I don’t entertain guests.”The men burst into laughter. “What bar do you think you’re in? There’s no such thing as not entertaining here. Don’t play coy, sweetheart. Sit with us, and you’ll be rewarded handsomely.”Fear surged through Karina as she instinctively stepped back, trying to maintain some distance. “I’m really just here for work,” she said, her voice trembling. “Please respect me!”But the men, emboldened
The woman leaned closer to Karina, lowering her voice. “You ruined my fun. The manager and I were having a great time, and you interrupted us. You need to make it up to me.”Karina’s frustration flared. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. The door wasn’t fully closed, and I was only there to talk about resigning.”But the woman wasn’t about to let it go. “I don’t care. You need to make it up to me. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee your night will go smoothly or that you’ll get to leave this job without issues.”Anger surged through Karina. “You’re being unreasonable! I didn’t do anything wrong!”The woman sneered. “In this bar, what I say goes. If you don’t cooperate, I have plenty of ways to make sure you can’t stay.”Karina knew arguing with her in this chaotic environment would only make things worse. But the idea of being bullied like this made her seethe. Taking a deep breath, she tried to stay calm. “What do you want me to do?”The woman’s eyes gleamed with triumph. “It’s simple. Ha
A strikingly glamorous woman sat perched on the manager’s lap, the two locked in a tight embrace, passionately kissing. The scene was nothing short of intimate, their connection palpable.Karina stood awkwardly at the door, caught between stepping in and retreating. She coughed lightly, trying to get their attention.Hearing the sound, the manager gently pushed the woman aside and turned toward the door. His expression showed no embarrassment; instead, he appeared slightly annoyed. “Karina, why didn’t you knock before coming in?”Karina forced a smile, her discomfort evident. “The door wasn’t fully closed. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I’m here to talk about resigning.”The manager adjusted his clothes, gesturing for the woman to sit aside. He raised his brows slightly. “Resign? Why the sudden decision to quit?”Karina bit her lip nervously. “It’s for personal reasons. I really can’t continue working here.”The manager leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. A f